February 3-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 5:19, We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 88, Week 5, Day 1: The Scriptures teach that the whole world is under the rule of a powerful, supernatural being called Satan, who is an absolute enemy of God, His creation, and His people. He is the ultimate deceiver. Once a heavenly angel, Satan rebelled against God’s rule in order to establish his own. In Genesis we find how, through the serpent, he deceived Adam and Eve and usurped their God-given domain over the planet. He now hides in the ways we see in the world: assumptions, values, political and religious systems. Satan is the “god of this world,” ruling his counterfeit kingdom of darkness with a hierarchy of fallen angels. Everything God does is determined by His plan to defeat Satan, overthrow His kingdom, and reestablish God’s own effective rule over all creation.
Relate it to your life.
When we become a child of God through Christ’s redemption, we join the winning side.
Do something.
“Father, I submit myself to be under Your absolute control and ask for Holy Spirit power to reject the influence of the enemy. Amen.”
February 4-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:8, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted page 91, Week 5, Day 2: As we saw in Day 1, Satan tempted the first humans into joining his rebellion, resulting in their spiritual separation from God. Throughout the rest of the Bible, we see constant warfare against God’s people by Satan. So, how can we claim victory in this spiritual battle? We need to be aware of Satan’s schemes so he doesn’t outwit us. Though Satan would love for us to fear him, we also need to remember 2 Timothy 2:17, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” And 1 John 4:4 tells us, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one is in You is greater than the one who is in the world.” We should always remember the devil is a created being, not equal to God. God will destroy him in the end.
Relate it to your life.
I need to claim the truth over and over that Christ in me is far greater than Satan who is in the world.
Do something.
“Father, I ask that your all-wise and powerful Spirit dwelling in me will keep me alert and safe from the many ploys of the enemy. Amen.”
February 5-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 96, Week 5, Day 3: John begins this passage with a clear command: Do not love the world or anything in the world.” There is no middle ground with this issue. Either you love God, or you love the world. You cannot love both. Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both and God and money.” God provides what we need and gives us good gifts. But sometimes, we can get too attached to the things of this world. Chasing after a way of life or the way people see us can consume our souls and suck the spiritual life out of us. This leaves us depleted and wanting more of the same “fix.” Ultimately, we are ineffective in honoring God and building His kingdom. We must understand our purpose is not to gratify our cravings, but to do the will of our heavenly Father.
Relate it to your life.
I have one job to do: the will of God.
Do something.
“Father, may my soul and body be in sync to offer myself to You as a holy and pleasing offering. Amen.”
February 6-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 7:21-25a, So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 100, Week 5, Day 4: Before we became followers of Christ, only the flesh ruled in us. The flesh was out for self-gratification and incapable of having a relationship with God. When we came to Christ, we were given the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of God. We live in a state where we are saved, but also being saved. When we give our hearts to Christ, our sin nature doesn’t go away even though the Holy Spirit helps us to focus our mind, not on things of the flesh, but on the things of the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
I must acknowledge there is a life and death battle going on for my soul.
Do something.
“Father, I want to do what is right and good. Give me the victory through Your Spirit over evil. Amen.”
February 7-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, pages 104-105, Week 5, Day 5: Sin gives the enemy a stronghold in our lives. This allows our adversary to have authority or position in our lives. Even though all legal claims Satan had against us were canceled when we chose to follow Christ, our willful indulgence of sins of the flesh is like a chink in our armor. Satan can exploit this and try to force his way back into our lives. He is an opportunist, looking for any wedge, tempting us, trying to catch us in weakness, trying to entice us to give in to unhealthy desires and act out in our old nature. We defeat the enemy and his strongholds with honesty that makes confession, surrender that leads to repentance, and accountability that brings freedom.
Relate it to your life.
If I don’t adequately deal with my sin and pain, they can spiral down into spiritual strongholds.
Do something.
“Father, give me the humility and courage to open myself up to You and others to be set free. Amen.”
February 8-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
James 5:16, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, pages 107-109: The following list of couplets indicate a stronghold and a corresponding freedom: Bitterness/Forgiveness, Control/Surrender, Idolatry/Contentment, Despair/Hope, Jealousy/Gratefulness, Sexual immorality/Purity, False Teaching & Religions/God’s Word, Insecurity/Security in Christ, Rejection/Acceptance, Deceit/Truthfulness, Fear/Trust in God’s Sovereignty, Pride/Humility. You can use these for the prayer below.
Relate it to your life.
God has the ability to demolish every stronghold that has been set up in my life.
Do something.
“Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus, I recognize the power You have given me by the shed blood of Jesus to demolish spiritual strongholds in my life. I confess that I have given a foothold to sin and I renounce the stronghold of _________________. I claim the truth of _____________________ (freedom) by the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. Through Your power, I take back the ground I surrendered to the enemy. I pray You will enable me to trust and obey Your Holy Spirit so that this area of my life will be in conformity to the image of Christ. Amen.”
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 5:19, We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 88, Week 5, Day 1: The Scriptures teach that the whole world is under the rule of a powerful, supernatural being called Satan, who is an absolute enemy of God, His creation, and His people. He is the ultimate deceiver. Once a heavenly angel, Satan rebelled against God’s rule in order to establish his own. In Genesis we find how, through the serpent, he deceived Adam and Eve and usurped their God-given domain over the planet. He now hides in the ways we see in the world: assumptions, values, political and religious systems. Satan is the “god of this world,” ruling his counterfeit kingdom of darkness with a hierarchy of fallen angels. Everything God does is determined by His plan to defeat Satan, overthrow His kingdom, and reestablish God’s own effective rule over all creation.
Relate it to your life.
When we become a child of God through Christ’s redemption, we join the winning side.
Do something.
“Father, I submit myself to be under Your absolute control and ask for Holy Spirit power to reject the influence of the enemy. Amen.”
February 4-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 Peter 5:8, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted page 91, Week 5, Day 2: As we saw in Day 1, Satan tempted the first humans into joining his rebellion, resulting in their spiritual separation from God. Throughout the rest of the Bible, we see constant warfare against God’s people by Satan. So, how can we claim victory in this spiritual battle? We need to be aware of Satan’s schemes so he doesn’t outwit us. Though Satan would love for us to fear him, we also need to remember 2 Timothy 2:17, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” And 1 John 4:4 tells us, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one is in You is greater than the one who is in the world.” We should always remember the devil is a created being, not equal to God. God will destroy him in the end.
Relate it to your life.
I need to claim the truth over and over that Christ in me is far greater than Satan who is in the world.
Do something.
“Father, I ask that your all-wise and powerful Spirit dwelling in me will keep me alert and safe from the many ploys of the enemy. Amen.”
February 5-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 96, Week 5, Day 3: John begins this passage with a clear command: Do not love the world or anything in the world.” There is no middle ground with this issue. Either you love God, or you love the world. You cannot love both. Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both and God and money.” God provides what we need and gives us good gifts. But sometimes, we can get too attached to the things of this world. Chasing after a way of life or the way people see us can consume our souls and suck the spiritual life out of us. This leaves us depleted and wanting more of the same “fix.” Ultimately, we are ineffective in honoring God and building His kingdom. We must understand our purpose is not to gratify our cravings, but to do the will of our heavenly Father.
Relate it to your life.
I have one job to do: the will of God.
Do something.
“Father, may my soul and body be in sync to offer myself to You as a holy and pleasing offering. Amen.”
February 6-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 7:21-25a, So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, page 100, Week 5, Day 4: Before we became followers of Christ, only the flesh ruled in us. The flesh was out for self-gratification and incapable of having a relationship with God. When we came to Christ, we were given the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of God. We live in a state where we are saved, but also being saved. When we give our hearts to Christ, our sin nature doesn’t go away even though the Holy Spirit helps us to focus our mind, not on things of the flesh, but on the things of the Spirit.
Relate it to your life.
I must acknowledge there is a life and death battle going on for my soul.
Do something.
“Father, I want to do what is right and good. Give me the victory through Your Spirit over evil. Amen.”
February 7-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, pages 104-105, Week 5, Day 5: Sin gives the enemy a stronghold in our lives. This allows our adversary to have authority or position in our lives. Even though all legal claims Satan had against us were canceled when we chose to follow Christ, our willful indulgence of sins of the flesh is like a chink in our armor. Satan can exploit this and try to force his way back into our lives. He is an opportunist, looking for any wedge, tempting us, trying to catch us in weakness, trying to entice us to give in to unhealthy desires and act out in our old nature. We defeat the enemy and his strongholds with honesty that makes confession, surrender that leads to repentance, and accountability that brings freedom.
Relate it to your life.
If I don’t adequately deal with my sin and pain, they can spiral down into spiritual strongholds.
Do something.
“Father, give me the humility and courage to open myself up to You and others to be set free. Amen.”
February 8-A Taste of Rooted
Write out the Scripture.
James 5:16, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Observe what it is saying.
Rooted, pages 107-109: The following list of couplets indicate a stronghold and a corresponding freedom: Bitterness/Forgiveness, Control/Surrender, Idolatry/Contentment, Despair/Hope, Jealousy/Gratefulness, Sexual immorality/Purity, False Teaching & Religions/God’s Word, Insecurity/Security in Christ, Rejection/Acceptance, Deceit/Truthfulness, Fear/Trust in God’s Sovereignty, Pride/Humility. You can use these for the prayer below.
Relate it to your life.
God has the ability to demolish every stronghold that has been set up in my life.
Do something.
“Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus, I recognize the power You have given me by the shed blood of Jesus to demolish spiritual strongholds in my life. I confess that I have given a foothold to sin and I renounce the stronghold of _________________. I claim the truth of _____________________ (freedom) by the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. Through Your power, I take back the ground I surrendered to the enemy. I pray You will enable me to trust and obey Your Holy Spirit so that this area of my life will be in conformity to the image of Christ. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals